By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

CORVALLIS, ORE. -- Alex Guffey (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) from Willamette University tied for fourth place in the 100-yard freestyle and was 13th in the 500-yard freestyle to lead the Bearcat swimming teams on the first day of the Corvallis Aquatic Team (CAT) Open on Friday, Nov. 30 at the Osborn Aquatic Center.

Guffey registered a time of 49.38 seconds in the finals of the 100-yard freestyle to match the time achieved by Anton Loncar of the Hillsboro Heat Swim Team. Both tied for fourth place.

Tristan Furnary of the Multnomah Athletic Club won the race in 46.59 seconds. Guffey placed sixth in the prelims despite earning his top time of the day at 48.83 seconds.

In the finals of the 500-yard freestyle, Guffey was timed at 4:58.89 for 13th place. He registered a time of 4:56.44 in the prelims.

Sean Piper (So, Normandy Park, WA/John F. Kennedy HS) was 10th in the finals of the 200-yard individual medley. His time in the finals was 2:02.36, as he moved up two spots from his seeding after the preliminary heats.

Piper also placed 17th in the 200-yard backstroke, as he won the "C" final with a time of 1:58.76. He earned his top time of the season in both events.

Andrew Lum (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) finished 11th in the 100-yard butterfly, as he moved up one spot from the prelims. He recorded a time of 55.40 seconds in the finals.

Kulananalu Tarnas (Fr., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) and Chris Whitehead (Jr., Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) both competed for Willamette in the "C" final of the 200-yard breaststroke. Tarnas, who was 23rd in the prelims, finished 19th overall by taking third place in the "C" final in 2:24.08. Whitehead took 24th place in 2:30.13.

Willamette women's swimmer Hope Nelson (So., Providence, RI/South Kingstown HS) advance to the "B" final in the 100-yard freestyle. She took 16th place with a time of 56.47 in the finals, as she almost matched her preliminary time of 56.46 seconds.

Action in the meet will continue on Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2. The meet features top swimmers from club teams in the region, as well as college swimmers from Pacific University and Willamette. Approximately 390 swimmers are competing.